In Nepal, a devastating airplane crash has led to the loss of 18 individuals.
The aircraft, which belonged to Nepal’s Saurya Airlines, caught fire after careening off the runway during takeoff at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
Authorities disclosed that the plane, carrying two crew members and 17 technicians, was en route to the recently inaugurated Pokhara airport for regular maintenance.
Tej Bahadur Poudyal, the spokesperson for Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, confirmed that only the captain survived and is currently undergoing medical treatment.
Footage depicts the plane ascending slightly above the runway before tragically plummeting to the ground.
Nepal has a dismal aviation safety history, with its treacherous mountainous topography contributing to its reputation as one of the most hazardous air travel destinations.
The country, home to eight of the world’s highest mountains, including Mount Everest, is renowned for its swiftly changing weather conditions and airstrips located in challenging, mountainous terrains.
Since the year 2000, Nepal has witnessed approximately 350 fatalities resulting from plane and helicopter accidents.
Just last year, a Yeti Airlines crash claimed the lives of 72 individuals, with the pilot being held responsible for inadvertently cutting off power.
Prior to 2000, the deadliest crash occurred in 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a hillside near Kathmandu, resulting in the deaths of 167 passengers.